Switching device.



D. D. GORDON.

SWITCHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1911.

"1,040,309; Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

V////// ///////////z q "9M //W MZ fla'vzzw gewamam UNITED STATES Paras curios.

JDAVIID FAGOBERT GORDON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

swITqHIive DEVICE.

and State of Illinois, have invented a certain I new and useful .Devices,

Improvement in Switching of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, ref. erence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specificati on.

My invention relates to switching devices and more particularly to switching devices for electrical circuits in which movable elements preferably alternately conducting and non-conducting are arranged in association with circuit terminals to thereby effect circuit changes.

y invention is more particularly an im- "provement over the structure disclosed in my application Serial No. 618,410, filed April 1, 1911. In this said co-pending application I set fortha device of the general character above described, and in my present application I set forth a device of this character in which means are provided whereby the circuit changes in response to the'actuations of my device are of the quick acting character so as to avoid the objectionable features of slowly moving contact elements which have a tendency to cause serious arcing disturbances.

My invention furthermore contemplates the'provision of a device of this character which may be of the ,double pole variety.

My invention furthermore has for its object the provision of a plurality of contact terminals with which a contact making element is adapted to be associated, which contact terminals areof such structure that the contact element if not in proper electrical connection With'both, contact terminals is terminal by the other contact terminal so as held away from one contact to avoid sparkv1n will explain my invention more in detail by reference to the accompanying drawing. illustrating the preferred embodlment thereof, in which:

igure 1 is a side View ofmy device, onehalf of the incldsing shell being removed; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the operating portion of the device in its operated positron; Fig. 3 is a sectional View on lines ar-a of Fig. 1; Fi 4 is a ,view similar to Figul showing my device adapted for double pole circuit changing work; Fig. 5 is a partial Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

Application filed June 20, 1911. Serial No. 634,214.

sectional View on lincs.7)-7) of Fig. 4, portions however being shown in full more clearly to reveal the structure, and Fig. (5 is a detail view to illustrate the arrangement of the contacting elements.

Referring to the illustration, I set-forth a switching device having two inclosing halves l and 2, which are held together means of a bolt or screw indicated in cross section at 3. A circular runway 4 is provided in the members 1 and 2, and is formed by two circular runways semi-circular in cross section formed in these two elements, as will be clearly apparent. A stud 5 forms a central guide within the runway 4:. Con ducting balls 6 and non-conducting balls are arranged for operation within this runway. These balls are adapted to be propelled about the said runway by means of a push button 8 to be presently explained. Contact springs 9 and 10 are provided in the insulating sections 2 and 1 and are so arranged as to project partially within the runway 41-, forming therein dished or saucer like contacting surfaces 11 and l2 respectively. These dished contacting surfaces are for thepurpose of maintaining the ballsthey' either 6 or 7 between them wheneverare so placed by the push button 8. The contact elements 9 and IO'are held respectively within the sections 2 and 1 by means of screws 13 and 1 1, which screws project into angle pieces 15 and 16 respectively. These angle pieces 15 and 16 are bent as shown and are provided with screws 17 and 18 to which the outside. lead wires for the circuit to be controlled by the switch are to be connected, either one of the balls 6 serving to close this circuit or the balls 7 to maintain it open. The contact surface 11 is smaller in diameter than the contact surface 12 as is more readily apparentfrom Fig. 6 which is for the purpose of preventing any conducting ball which may have been pushed part-1y beyond its contact mak' ing position through somefaulty operation of the pushbutton from falling back against these contacting surfaces, and by being in close association with both of them causing arcing.

It will be seen that one surface ,12 being larger that if the ball should fall back it would have to fall back a ainst the contact surface 12 and this woulrI prevent it from reaching the contact surface 11 so that no arc would be established. This however, is

only to guard against a faulty operation which might occur, if for instance any of the parts were broken. The arrangement of these switch elements in this manner has other advantageous features which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

In Fig. d I have illustrated that twoadditional pairs of springs i) and 10 may be utilized by the indication at 19 of a spring corresponding to the .spring 9 whose counterpart would be in the opposite section 1. It will thus be seen that the two wires of the circuit may both be close circnitcd or open circuited so that the switch g structure as shown in t capable of use for double pole switching purposes.

llhe prune object of the invention, be-

fore stated, is to secure quick break action of the elements herein as 1 find that under great number of conditions a switching device of this character will not operate properly. To accomplish this quick break and quick make feature, 1 construct the push button 8 as will now be described.

A cylindrical groove 20 is provided in the parts 1 and 2 formed of two semi-circular halves. \Vithin this a plunger 20 is dei signed to operate. This plunger 20 is holfrom leaving the low and carries a second plunger or piston 21, both parts being held in their extended position by-means of a spring The plunger 21' has a flange 23 and is prevented plunger 20 by the shoulder 24, the parts being suitably assembled by reason of the removable cap 25. A spring 26 resting against a ledge 27 and engaging at its opposite end the plunger 20 normally maintains the plunger in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4c. The plunger 21 is provided with a groove 28, one side of which is formed of an insulating plate 29. This groove 28 is normally engaged by a sliding plate 30 held in its dep' "ed position by means of the spring 2-31. 'l .is spring 31 as stated normally secures the engagement of the groove 28 by the plate 30. A rectangular pro ection 32 is preferably punched out of the plate 30 and is adapted for engagement by the rim 33 provided at the left hand ex tremity of the plunger 20. Now when the push button 8 is moved toward the left, it will compress both springs 22 and 26 as the plunger or piston 21 is held against movement toward the left by the plate 30, which plate it may be stated slides within a groove 34 provided in the elements 1 and 2. As soon as the rim 33 ms real-lied the projection 32 the plate 30 is moved upwardly against the pressure of the spring 31, thereby releasing the plunger 31 and causing it rapidly and as nearly instantaneously as possible to assume the position shown in Fig. 2. A very sudden acting release on account of the. spring action due to the spring 22 and complete operation-of the device must take place after the plunger has once been released. 'lhis is of the ut most importance in a device of this kind because without such provisions it will not operate satisfactorily under most conditions. The projection 35 against which. the spring 31 rests is formed preferably on the element- 2 and projects into the element 1 serving at the same time to aline these elements when putting them together. When the pressure against the cap 25 is released,'the spring 26 returns the parts so that they occupy the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 4. It may be added that the plate 30 has a preferably circular aperture 36 through which the plunger 21 may project after the movement of the plate 80 as aforesaid.

The operation will be apparent in that one actuation brings a conducting ball 6 between the springs 9 and 10' to close the circuit therethrough and the next actuation of the plunger brings a non-conducting ball bet-ween the springs 9 and 10 to thereby open the circuit between the springs. Reference to Fig. 4 will indicate that two balls 6 may at the same time be in service if the instrument is used for double pole service. Holes 37 and 38 are provided so'that the device may be properly mounted. will be n'tcd. that no contact portions are exposed at the screws 17 and 18.

I have herein described ofcourse, merely one embodiment of the invention which is to be taken as illustrative of ti .chan es Within the scope of the a ipended claims may be made without depa the spirit of my invention. I

#Vhat I thereforeclaim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described having contact terminals, of contact making balls and insulatin. balls adapted for alternate interposition nctween'said terminals, runway for said balls into which said terminals project, and automatically quick acting means for actuating said balls.

2. A. device of the character described having contact terminals, of contact making balls and insulating balls adapted for alternate interposition between said terminals, a runway for said balls into which said terminals project, and an automatically quick; acting push button for actuating said .balls -f 3. device of the character described having contact terminals, a runway into which said terminals project, an individual contact making and an individual insulating element adapted for progressive movement about said runway to alternately" close circuit or open circuit through 5 contact terminals, and automatically quicl: acting means for actuating said elements.

4. A device of the. character described havin contact terminals, a runway into matically quick acting means for actuating said elements.

5. A device of the character described having cont-act terminals, a runway into which said terminals project, a contact making element, and an insulating element adapted for alternate interposition between said terminals .and movable progressively forward about said runway, and automatically quick acting means to move said elements about said runway.

6.. A device of the character described having contact terminals, ofcontact making elements, and insulating elements adapted for alternate interposition between said terminals, a runway for said elements about which said elements move progressively forward and into which said terminals project,

and automatically quick acting means for actuating said elements.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 14th day of June, A. D. 1911.

DAVID DAGOBERT GORDON. Witnesses: I

A. LYDA Jones.

HAZEL JONES. 

